The Deer That Hunts

Elina held onto her sister’s limping form as they ran into the one place she could think of on whim: Evernight Forest. They ran and ran, her heart hammering against her chest, her mouth parched with thirst and she glanced back occasionally to see if the witch would appear. “Please,” Evangeline’s voice came out as but a whisper and Elina slowed down, seeing her sister’s pained, exhausted form.

Elina stopped running completely and looked around. She had no idea where they were, but she found a large tree root and sat her sister down on it. “Eva, gods, how do you feel?” She cringed away from her sister’s wound. The torn scraps of her nightgown she wrapped around her wound were completely soaked through with blood.

Evangeline swallowed as if it hurt, “I am fine, I just…need to catch my breath.”

In that moment of silence, Elina bent over and sobbed. She clutched her belly bile rose up her throat and she vomited. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve through the tears. “Eva, Eva, what–what was that? That wasn't supposed to happen!" Her breaths came out heavy and panicked, her fingers entangling themselves in her hair.

Evangeline groaned as she reached for her sister, the wound on her arm too much to bear as she winced and her skin paled in color. Elina forced herself to resign her questions for a later time. She helped Evangeline stand and the pair began walking through the forest again.

“Do you have a clue where we are?” She asked as she tried not to pay much attention to the looming trees and the eyes she felt watching her every move. Evangeline shook her head as she limped, resting most of her weight on Elina.

Elina looked at her sister’s wound and panic filled her. She needed help and quickly. Then, through the trees, what looked to be a small cottage peeked through the darkness, smoke rising from the chimney. “Someone could be in there. They could help you.” Elina said and she led her sister to the cottage.

“I do not know, Elina.” Evangeline protested, “Why would someone live within the forest? It makes no sense.” They stood at the front door and Elina knocked. She glanced at her sister once more, and her heart pounded. If she did not get help soon then she would die, and Elina could not lose someone else.

The door creaked open and revealed a short, older man who wore square rimmed glasses which rested lowly on the bridge of his nose. His shorts which poofed around his thighs and came to a close around his calves shifted as he brushed them down. “What brings you two lovely ladies here so late?” His thin lips spread into an uncharacteristic smile, one that made Elina's belly queasy and hands clammy.

Still she answered, “My sister, can you help her?” She gestured to Evangeline’s cut and his beady eyes observed it. It was as if he was lost in a trance before he snapped out of it and replied to Elina.

“Yes of course, come in come in.” He opened the door wider and stepped aside. Elina stepped across the threshold, holding her sister against her as the man led them to his dining table and sat them there.

Inside the cottage was warm and cozy. Elina flexed her shivering fingers and rolled out her aching shoulders. The man had the fireplace lit and had two mugs of steaming tea set out as if he had been expecting guests. The lowly roof felt as if it was closing in on Elina as she looked at her poor sister, the chair although wooden, surprisingly soft to sit on.

He disappeared within the kitchen and clattered things around before he appeared with two plates full of food and sat them before the girls. He clasped his hands and giggled with a squeak, “I have been told my food can heal awful wounds. Just give it a taste and your sister here’ll be all good as new.” He said. “You too.” Looking at Elina's struggling form.

She looked at the plates of food before them and her belly growled, she rested a hand there to reign it in. There were meats, and sauces, and juicy vegetables which reminded her of the way her mother would steam the vegetables. She lifted the fork, testing the food whether to eat it or not and the man simply went on his business doing random things around his home.

Elina scooped some food onto the fork and brought it to her mouth when her sister used her good arm and gripped her arm. “Do not eat it.” She hissed.

Elina looked at her sister, “But what if it’ll heal you?”

“Lina, think critically. Where are we and what have we always been taught about this forest?” Evangeline reprimanded, their voices low.

“To always be wary past dusk.” She replied and Evangeline nodded, the lively color of her skin so pale Elina began to fret the Ferryman would whisk her away.

“If we eat this food we will never be able to leave this cottage.” She said and it was as if everything stood still. There wasn’t a single crackle of ember from the fireplace, no more sounds of dusting or plates clattering. Complete silence as if Evangeline had said something that broke the spell.

Elina dragged her head to look back at the presence before them. The man. He stared at them as if he could see through their souls and he bent his neck at unnatural angles and he grew and grew and grew. His bones snapped, elongated and reshaped, his gait completely changed, his personhood ripped away and all that remained was a terrifying beast.

The face of a monstrous deer twice the size of the girls loomed over them, snarling lips and snapping teeth, its beady eyes angled at the girls. “Run, Lina, run!” Evangeline grabbed her sister’s arm with her good arm and nearly flung herself to the floor but caught herself. Elina could see her sister could barely keep herself upright.

They thrashed to the door and Evangeline flung out her arm to grab onto the door knob when the deer/elk monster charged before them and destroyed it. Elina's heart pounded, the sound swelling in her ears and threatened to take her under. “I know what you are.” It snarled, its fangs chopping at each word. Fear pooled within Elina and she knew her sister and her could not escape this alive.

Evangeline glanced at Elina for just a second, “Go, Lina. I will be right behind you.”

Elina shook her head, tears streaming down her face, her mind melded into a mess of pain and hurt and confusion. “No, I refuse, please, please,” The monster charged at them again and Elina pulled her sister to her as they jumped out of the way and fell to the ground.

Elina had no idea how they would escape, there was only one door and the monster stood before it. So, Elina did the only thing she could do: she screamed. Her fingers dug into the torn, bloodied and dirtied skirts of her nightgown as she emptied her voice, until there was nothing left.

The deer monster staggered back and prepared for another charge to the girls when the forest around them suddenly felt alive. The ground shook as beating hooves and scurries came closer. Deers, foxes, bunnies, dogs and cats all came and nipped at the monster.

Elina threw up again when the monster sunk its fangs into a fox’s throat. The monster staggered back some more away from the door, focusing its attacks on the animals surrounding it. She saw their opening and hauled her sister up, mustering whatever strength she had deep within her and they barreled out the front door, leaving the monster and the cottage behind.

Elina turned back one last time and the door had repaired itself, it looked just like how it appeared to them before. Shivers went up and down her spine. “Eva, Eva.” Elina cried out, her grip tightening on her sister’s good arm.

Her sister slumped to her knees, and Elina saw how dark the shade of blood was on her sister’s arm and body. “Eva, please, stay awake. Come on, get up. I cannot get out of this forest without you. I cannot find help without you.” The poor girl blubbered and pulled her sister’s good arm but there was no use. Evangeline simply could not go any further.

In the distance, a glimmer caught her eye and an idea came to her mind. “The lakes are said to be enchanted with healing properties, right? That is what the fables say. Just, please bare with me for a few more moments. Just until we get to that lake, alright?” She asked her sister, pleading with her life and the greedy gods who wished to steal it.

Evangeline blinked once more, the edges of her face hardening out and she breathed heavily as she allowed Elina to carry her just a bit farther. The weight heavy against Elina's shoulders, arms and back, she toughened out, exhalting the last of her strength as she hauled her sister to the lake.

She wasted no time and sunk her sister’s bloodied arm into the lake from which Evangeline hissed and groaned. The blood seeped into the lake and blue shimmering light ripped in the water. Deep below, Elina spotted a shadow darting, but she turned her attention back to her sister.

“How do you feel? Is it working? Please, tell me it’s working. I cannot lose you tonight, Evangeline, please.” She begged, tears pouring.

Slowly, the color came back to Evangeline’s body and Elina exhaled, her entire body heaving from exhaustion. Her gaze still transfixed on her sister and the wounds which seemed to be slowly closing up, she did not notice the tug on her nightgown until it was too late.

There was a splash and then Elina could not breathe. The surface of the lake above her, her air bubbles surrounded her and bopped to the top. She kicked and she screamed, but it was all futile. A hand dragged her further and further down to the depths of their world. The last thing she saw before she succombed to her inevitable death was her sister’s frightened face and the hand that came around her mouth and dragged her away.

She closed her eyes and allowed the water to take her, the creatures to drag her to a watery grave. She would die tonight. She already escaped it twice, and she knew she could not afford the luxury of a third time.